Merry Christmas!

 It is so glorious to take a day away from the world and focus on the birth of our dear Savior who condescended to come to this earth, take on mortality, and show us the way to live so that one day, after we do all the good things we can, we can go back to live with Him and Our Parents in Heaven again.  Because of Him and His magnificent sacrifice for us all on the cross, this is available to all who follow Him.

You have seen the panel we have on our front door.  Dear One, who shuts off every light  in our home as he leaves a room, (and also highly recommends I do the same...!) leaves the porch light on all night.  I know why he does this.  It reminds me of the hymn Let The Lower Lights Be Burning:

1. Brighly beams our Father's mercy
From His lighthouse everymore;
But to us He give the keeping
Of the lights along the shore.

Refrain:

Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting, struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

2. Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.

Refrain

3. Trim your feeble lamp, my brother!
Some poor seaman, tempest-tosse3d,
Trying now to make the harbor
In the darkness may be lost.

Refrain

Sung by Tennessee Ernie Ford

There was such a poor fainting, struggling seaman in our past.  I am afraid we were not the light along the shore he needed --so now, perhaps someone who needs to see it and be comforted and brought peace may see this panel of the birth of our Savior and be blessed as he or she passes by during the night time hours.

May you all continue in peace and joy as you share the love of Jesus Christ this day and always.